About Mental Health

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Approximately 1 in 5 people in Northern Ireland will experience a problem with their mental health at some stage in life.

The remaining three people will know someone who is experiencing a mental health problem. This section aims to help you to:

  • Understand mental health, mental ill health and mental illness.
  • Give you tips on what to do if you think you are experiencing a mental health problem or if you believe someone you know is going through the same thing.
  • Answer some frequently asked questions.

What is mental health?
Just like physical health, we all have mental health. It relates to how we think, feel and act; it controls how we manage day-to-day life and stressful situations. Looking after both our physical and mental health, from infancy through to adulthood, is important.

When our mental health is good, we feel positive and confident, and can cope well with daily challenges. There are certain things that we can introduce to our daily lives to help us maintain good mental health. They can also help with the early signs of mental ill health. Another way of protecting ourselves is by seeking professional help when we need it, by, say, making an appointment to speak to a GP. There are also a range of community-based support organisations across Northern Ireland. Click here for more information. 

We can all experience times where we feel less able to deal with stressful situations. Good mental health relates to experiencing positive psychological and emotional wellbeing. When we feel good mentally, we may feel much more able to achieve our goals and enjoy life.

Additionally, good mental health builds resilience, honing our ability to cope with what life throws at us. At other times, we might require more support to bounce back.

Mental health problems can range from experiencing worries and anxiety as part of everyday life to serious long-term conditions. Most people who experience these can make full recoveries, learning to live fulfilling lives with or without ongoing symptoms of their condition, particularly if they receive the appropriate support early on.

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